UK diesel consumption fell by nearly a billion litres within the monetary yr 2023 to 2024, new statistics present.
AA evaluation of HMRC figures launched this week discovered the UK consumed 968 million much less litres of diesel, whereas petrol consumption elevated by 702 million litres.
The AA attributes this to the excessive value of diesel coinciding with efficient anti-diesel campaigns in cities and cities, resulting in drivers switching from diesel to petrol, hybrid and electrical automobiles.
AA evaluation of HMRC figures launch this week discovered the UK consumed 968 million much less litres of diesel, whereas petrol consumption elevated by 702 million litres
Through the monetary yr 2023 to 2024, Hydrocarbon Oils Bulletin figures present diesel consumption fell 3.2 per cent from 30.075 billion to 29.107 billion litres.
UK petrol consumption alternatively rose yr on yr by 4.2 per cent, rising from 16.579 billion to 17.281 billion litres.
The AA believes the drop is probably going as a result of each worth and the demonising of diesel in highly-populated city areas.
Diesel remaining as a lot as 20p a litre dearer than petrol even after the pump worth shocks of 2022 and early 2023 subsided.
The rise in gas prices in current weeks has been properly documented, with AA evaluation placing the common UK value of diesel at 158.3p a litre on 22 April.
On the time of recording, petrol costs had been 150.1p a litre, making diesel round 8p extra a litre than petrol.
These greater comparative costs are possible liable for turning off massive numbers of diesel automobile homeowners and potential patrons.
Whereas petrol automobile numbers have hit a plateau of 19.24 million between This autumn 2019 and in Q3 2023, diesel automobile numbers have dropped by 1.5 million (12.852 versus 11.352) in the identical interval
Petrol pump costs crashing from a peak of 191.5p a litre in July 2022 to 143.2p in July 2023 may have additionally had a bearing, as will different components similar to employees going again into workplaces and public transport disruption forcing commuters to journey by automobile.
Moreover, the AA believes the anti-diesel mantra in cities and massive cities has been an affect within the transfer away from diesel.
Most up-to-date Division for Transport statistics present that, whereas petrol automobile numbers hit a plateau of 19.24 million between This autumn 2019 and in Q3 2023, diesel automobile numbers dropped by 1.5 million (12.852 versus 11.352) in the identical interval.
Petrol automobiles have maintained their numbers whereas the mixed variety of hybrid automobiles, electrical autos (EVs) and different alternative-fuelled automobiles have jumped.
These low-and zero-emission alternate options have elevated from 800,000 to just about three million in the identical interval that diesel numbers have dropped.
With diesel homeowners switching to petrol, extra petrol may have been used to cowl the identical journeys – as diesel automobiles are often round 15 to twenty per cent extra gas environment friendly than petrol.
Luke Bosdet, the AA’s spokesman on street gas, mentioned: ‘This week’s UK gas consumption statistics seem to bolster the view that diesel automobiles’ days are numbered. The massive query is what number of of their former homeowners have switched to EVs or hybrids?
‘Nevertheless, it will be improper to put in writing off the diesel automobile simply but. If the pump-price differential between petrol and diesel shrinks considerably and over an extended interval, there are varieties of driving and journeys the place DERV’s superior gas effectivity excels.
‘Whereas cities and built-up areas could also be attempting to run diesels out of city, out on the open street and rural areas a diesel car could be king.’
